February 21

OUTDOOR: Spanish National award of Active Tourism 2020 given to La Gomera

Posted by adefrutos on February 21, 2020 in canarias island, outdoor, trail running spain | Leave a comment

National Association of Active Tourism Companies gives the Spanish National award of Active Tourism 2020 to the island of La Gomera (Canary Islands), because of the work enhanced by the public institutions to promote this economic sector, which has been increasing in Spain during the last years as a sustainable alternative to travel in Europe.

The island of La Gomera has been awarded the ‘Spanish Destination of Excellence for Active Tourism’ award by the National Association of Active Tourism Companies for its work in promoting this sector, a sustainable tourism alternative in Europe.

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NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ACTIVE TOURISM COMPANIES: LA GOMERA AWARDED

Within the framework of the International Tourism Fair in Madrid and to the sound of the chácaras and the drum, the National Association of Active Tourism Companies (ANETA) presented the award Destination of Excellence for Active Tourism in Spain 2020, granted for the first time in Spain, to the island of La Gomera for “the work of promotion and professionalization of the island companies in this economic sector,” as argued Oscar Santos, president of the Association.

This award recognises organisations and companies that work towards sustainable, greener and more active tourism, and encourages the business community to understand that this is an opportunity for the future of Europe. This was expressed by the Tourism Councillor of the Cabildo of La Gomera, María Isabel Méndez, who pointed out that the importance of Active Tourism companies for the promotion of the destination is fundamental, especially a nature destination such as La Gomera, since “there is no better way to get to know it than through the activities offered in line with the environment“.

As the wave of environmental awareness spreads through European countries, new movements are emerging that seek sustainability in our actions. At this crossroads for seeking sustainable mobility alternatives in Europe, Active Tourism is positioning itself as a new way of spending your holidays respecting the environment, offering personalized experiences as an alternative to sun and beach tourism. As a consequence, income and tourist flows are redistributed towards inland areas, thus revaluing the territory.

Active Tourism combines adventure, ecotourism and the cultural aspects of a journey of discovery, thus contributing to the appreciation of the environment through the direct involvement of the tourist. Furthermore, it has a low environmental impact, so it is considered ecological, socially compatible and, at the same time, of high quality. This makes it a potential element that should be supported, as it not only contributes to mobility between EU countries, but also enhances the value of the destination.

ANETA, a Spanish benchmark for Active Tourism in Europe

There are currently around 4,000 Active Tourism companies in Spain, which translates into a turnover of around 300 million euros and an average of 10 direct green jobs per company. The Active Tourism offer gains weight throughout Europe annually, promoting a new tourism model that bets on diversification and deseasonalization of the offer and ecotourism, while promoting the economic development of inland areas at risk of depopulation.

In this sense, the Canary Islands have become a recurrent destination for Active Tourism at a European level. Therefore, it is important to consider this sector as a tourism alternative in order to motivate sustainable mobility between European countries, to experience the destination and to understand the values that enrich it. Seeking a balance between nature, leisure and business is an important factor, but the Canary Islands, and more specifically La Gomera, are strongly committed to this tourism model. This is why the island’s Cabildo has been worthy of this first Active Tourism recognition at a national level, an act that reflects the importance this sector is acquiring in Spain.